CANADA

There are four different biomes found in Canada: tundra, boreal forest, temperate
deciduous forest and grasslands. Each one has different characteristics. Tundra is
located in the northern parts (close to the North Pole); it has an extremely cold
climate that causes the formation of permafrost. It has very little precipitation and
very low numbers of plants. These plants reproduce quickly and are usually rooted
to the active layer (Layer of soil on top of the permafrost) (1). Its biodiversity
consists on plants such as cotton grass, mosses and lichens, and animals such as
caribous, polar bears and artic wolves and foxes. South to the tundra we found
boreal forests, the largest biome in the country. It has a temperate climate, hot on
summers and cold on winters (1). Its biodiversity consists on plants, mainly
conifers, and animals such as the American black duck, the blue jay, the raccoon,
red fox, and North American bison (3). Found on the southern parts of Ontario and
Quebec there are temperate deciduous forests. These forests have a fair amount
of precipitation and a temperate climate, hot on summer cold on winter. This biome
has the highest biodiversity of plants and animals probably due to its very fertile
soil (1). This biome presents plants such as moss, oak trees, birch trees and maple
trees. Fauna found on temperate deciduous forests goes from woodpeckers and
cardinals to white-tailed deer, raccoons and porcupines (4). Finally we have
grasslands which are found on the southern regions of Canada. It has a temperate
climate as well, hot on summer cold on winter (1). Is the second highest
biodiversity of these four biomes its dominant plants are grasses, as there is not
enough water for trees to grow. It has a variety of animals such as black-tailed
prairie dog, burrowing owl, black-footed ferret, prairie rattlesnake, and pronghorn
antelope (5).
Canadas population runs around 35 million people as of 2012 (6). Canadas
population is very critically consisted mainly on elders and adults. Based on
several projections, the growth rate will maintain the same in the next 20 years, but
migration will increase its population. Ontario is the province with the most people,
standing at, approximately, 13.5 million people (6).

According to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) don by Yale University in

2010 Canada was positioned in rank 46 with a score of 66.4. A really interesting
situation that is present in this specific country is the fact, that it has achieved its
goal or a perfect situation for quality of water and conservation and quality of their
forests. On the other hand they have an interesting problem with the air pollution
taking in count there is good quality for human beings but for the ecosystem is
really poor quality.
The 100% of the population of Canada has access to water and sanity services
which means they have reached their goal. This is due most probably to the
actions the government started doing on the infrastructure, making conscious of
the vast water resources (Water action plans late 2007 and early 2008), and action
plans for treating the heavy metals on the water. (8)
In the area of the ecosystem Canada has a 0.0 decline rate and a 1.0 recover
stock rate for their woods in other woods theyre having a stable stock of woods
recovering the amount that they cut. There are organizations like Canadian
Forestry Association who look out for the forests and realize events like The
Batesville Living Memorial for reforesting harmed forests.(9)
One main obstacle of the ranking position is the climate change, according to the
EPI, Canadas climate change score is 37.34. It is mainly based in three different
indicators. The first is the greenhouse gas emissions per capita, that is caused
from fossil fuels, land use change emissions, and non-CO2 gasses like methane
and NOX; it is much more than the raw target value and unit. The next one is
carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity generation caused by the energy
sector which makes up 41% of energy-related GHG emission. And the last one is
the industrial Greenhouse intensity per unit of generated PPP is of 64.844 tons of
Co2 per $millions, it is twice what it should be and it is mainly caused because of
the industrial sector (10).

References:
(1).Stmarycss. (---). Canadian Biomes. Retrieved the 8/05/2013 from
www.stmarycss.ca/.../mr.../Canadian%20Biomes.ppt
(2). Langlois, A. (2012). Canada's Arctic Tundra. Retrieved the 8/05/2013 from
http://www.hww.ca/en/where-they-live/canadas-arctic-tundra.html
(3). Hinterland Who's Who. (2012). Canada's Boreal Forest. Retrieved the
8/05/2013 from http://www.hww.ca/en/where-they-live/canadas-boreal-forest.html
(4). NatureWorks. (2013). Temperate Deciduous Forest. Retrieved the 8/05/2013
from http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep8c.htm
(5). Finlay, M. (2010). Canada's Grasslands. Retrieved the 8/05/2013 from
www.hww.ca/en/where-they-live/grasslands.html
(6). Statistics Canada. (September 27, 2012). Population by year, by province and
territory . Retrieved Canada: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sumsom/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm
(7) University of Yale (2010) Canada EPI. Retrieved the 5/05/2013 from
http://www.epi2010.yale.edu/Countries/Canada
(8)
(9) Canadian Forestry Association (2013) Batesville Living Memorial Tree Planting
Program retrieved the 7/05/2013 from http://canadianforestry.com/wp/?page_id=386
(10) University of Yale (2010) Canada EPI. Retrieved the 5/05/2013 from

http://www.epi2010.yale.edu/Countries/Canada